Job Search Strategy

I am 29 year old female and have graduated in 2006 with BS in Biochemistry. I have been looking for something in my field, but everything is temporary or contract as well as low pay. Currently, I am working as a Pharmacy Technician in the translation department for one of the large mail order pharmacy. I went to school for few years in the hope of getting a job paying more, but some company needs to give me break for me to gain experience. I have posted my resume on CareerBuilder and Monster. I would really appreciate if someone can guide me.

Could you please tell me how to find any jobs that would train me, where I would fly across the country on a regular basis? I absolutely love to travel, and sincerely wish I could have a job like this. I have worked in many different jobs, none of these were professional jobs. I have had a very difficult time searching for a job like this (where they would train me). Most travel jobs (in any career field) require years of experience.

I received my MBA with a concentration in finance and since then, I have been searching for a new position to take advantage of the degree and to fulfill a desire to have more challenging work opportunities. It has been very difficult to say the least. My current position is as administrative support at a private university. My work history is not extensive, but I am more than capable of managing a position of "higher authority" and responsibility. I am not sure how to get my resume to those who would have a serious interest in providing me with what I am looking for.

I am new to the job market and am looking to find a headhunter agency that specializes in retail related positions. I have searched online and have only found e-job sites (i.e. jobfox and monster) that allow you to post your resume and shop for open positions within their database. If you know of any reputable headhunter agencies in Chicago, please pass the info my way.

What do you tell someone in an interview when you've been fired from a job?

Many people have left their jobs under circumstances that they are not particularly proud of. You are right to think about how you would present your situation in an interview. Since I do not know all the details of your stories, my comments will be general.

I'm sorry, but I do not have information about part time positions with companies that do not do background checks. Generally, people who have this request have something in their background that they feel would be a deterrent in their ability to be hired. You may need some professional help to offer some suggestions on how to address it in your job search.

I would suggest you research those organizations that may specialize in your particular issue, such as the Safer Foundation, and seek help directly from them.

I have a Class X felony on my record that is 13 years old, yet it can not be expunged. Briefly, it was my first and only arrest. I count myself lucky because the company I worked for then kept me on the payroll and I had a position waiting for me when I got to work release. When that company closed its doors in 2000, reality set in. I went on 6 interviews to one company and then they sent me a letter explaining that my background was simply not what they had hoped for. So many doors are closed to people like me. I act and live as normally as everyone else, yet when I interview now the fear of discovery, along with the age factor is unbelievable. I am supposed to be going to school through WIA since I became unemployed once again. Do you have access to companies that either don't check that far back, companies that don't check, or those that understand our justice system is not always foolproof? Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

I have a degree in history and does that basically mean I will never find a job?

So, you have a degree in history and don't know if you will ever find a job. As far as I'm concerned all that it means is that you have a degree in history. Whether or not you ever find a job depends on how hard and strategically you work at the process.

I'll bet you have lots of skills, talents, interests and value that employers may be able to use. But you have to make a stronger effort to see where you fit.

I recently graduated with my masters degree in counseling and human services from a local University. Although I am not a LCPC yet, I would like to know what kind of career or field should I be looking for and what salary should I be asking for?

I'm not sure I have answers for you, but I do have lots of questions! What kind of career do you want? What areas are you interested in? What areas do you have skills in? Where do your skills and experience fit into the needs of the workplace? These are all issues you need to explore.